5 Best Tight Ends of All-Time, Ranked

Tight ends are some of the most versatile players in football, as they are asked to block like linemen and catch like wide receivers. Ranking the best tight ends of all time means weighing statistics, impact, championships, and overall influence on the position. 

The following five players stand above the rest for their unique combination of production, dominance, and versatility.

1. Tony Gonzalez

• Career: 1997 to 2013 (Chiefs, Falcons)
• Career Stats: 1,325 receptions, 15,127 yards, 111 touchdowns
• Accolades: 14× Pro Bowler, 6× First-Team All-Pro

Tony Gonzalez is the gold standard for tight end production, as he retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns among tight ends. On top of that, his size and athleticism made him an utter mismatch for any defense he went up against.

Remarkably durable, Gonzalez played 17 seasons and missed only two games. His consistency and dominance in both Kansas City and Atlanta redefined expectations for what a tight end could be.

The one knock on Gonzalez? He never so much as appeared in a Super Bowl. Gonzalez didn’t enjoy much high-level team success, but he played longer than most tight ends and completely redefined the position with elite stats to boot.

2. Rob Gronkowski

• Career: 2010 to 2021 (Patriots, Buccaneers)
• Career Stats: 621 receptions, 9,286 yards, 92 touchdowns
• Accolades: 4× Super Bowl Champion, 4× First-Team All-Pro, 2014 Comeback Player of the Year

Rob Gronkowski was the ultimate mismatch. At 6’6” and 265 pounds, he combined elite size with surprising speed and agility. If it weren’t for a litany of injuries and far worse longevity compared to Tony Gonzalez, he’d be an easy pick for the best NFL tight end of all-time.

Perhaps you could still argue as much, as Gronkowski dominated in the red zone, scoring double-digit touchdowns in five different seasons. His postseason production is unrivaled for tight ends, with 92 catches, 1,389 yards, and 15 touchdowns across 22 playoff games. You can bet on NFL playoff performances and player props like these at our favorite football betting sites.

The career numbers don’t sniff Gonzalez’s, but Gronkowski was arguably a more physically dominant force, was an elite blocker, and enjoyed as much team success (4 Lombardi Trophies) as any tight end in league history.

3. Antonio Gates

• Career: 2003 to 2018 (Chargers)
• Career Stats: 955 receptions, 11,841 yards, 116 touchdowns
• Accolades: 8× Pro Bowler, 3× First-Team All-Pro

Antonio Gates, a former college basketball player, brought unique athleticism to the position. If you look at where he came from and how far he got in the NFL, his story alone demands he make the top five NFL tight ends ever.

Gates ranks first all-time among tight ends with 116 receiving touchdowns, putting him among the very best at the position in terms of statistical accomplishment. That didn’t lead to a lot of high-level team success – he never reached a Super Bowl – but it still allowed him to showcase his insane speed and athleticism.

His chemistry with Philip Rivers led to one of the most productive QB-TE duos in history. Gates’ size, leaping ability, and red zone dominance made him nearly impossible to defend, comparable to the league’s top wide receivers in scoring impact. From an individual perspective, he has a serious case to be ranked as the best tight end in NFL history.

4. Shannon Sharpe

• Career: 1990 to 2003 (Broncos, Ravens)
• Career Stats: 815 receptions, 10,060 yards, 62 touchdowns
• Accolades: 3× Super Bowl Champion, 4× First-Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Shannon Sharpe was one of the first true receiving tight ends in the modern NFL. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in three different seasons and scored at least 10 touchdowns twice.

When all was said and done, Sharpe put the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career with over 800 catches, over 10,000 receiving yards, and 62 scores.

On top of his jaw-dropping stats, Sharpe was a key piece in three Super Bowl runs with two different teams. He helped the Denver Broncos win back-to-back titles, and then secured a third Lombardi Trophy later with the Baltimore Ravens.

Sharpe didn’t find the end-zone quite as much as some of the other top tight ends on this list, but his other numbers were comparable, and his team success was as good as anyone’s. In addition, his athleticism and route running paved the way for the pass-catching tight end revolution.

5. Travis Kelce

• Career: 2013-Present (Chiefs)
• Career Stats: 1,035 receptions, 12,526 yards, 79 touchdowns
• Accolades: 10× Pro Bowler, 4× First-Team All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl Champ

Travis Kelce at the 5 spot in our NFL tight end rankings? Blasphemy, I know. However, Kelce’s career isn’t over, and one could certainly argue he’s never left a lasting mark as a blocker at the pro level.

That said, you could argue for Kelce as the best tight end of all-time based solely on statistical achievements, as he is already the record holder for receptions and yardage for the position. He has a lot of ground to cover in the scoring department, but his overall stats cement his spot among the 5 best tight ends of all-time.

If that weren’t enough, Kelce’s team success is as good as anyone else on this list, as he’s been to five Super Bowls and won three of them.

Honorable Mentions

• Kellen Winslow Sr. – One of the first athletic and productive tight ends.
• Ozzie Newsome – Consistent force for the Browns in the 1980s
• Mike Ditka – Revolutionized the position in the 1960s

Kellen Winslow Sr. deserves a nod, as he was putting up eye-popping numbers during a time where most teams still ran the football more than they passed. His connection with Dan Fouts made the Chargers must-see TV and he wound up accruing big numbers because of their chemistry.

Ozzie Newsome was another big name who found success in the 80s, as the Browns legend spent all 13 of his seasons with the franchise, accumulating 662 catches for nearly 8,000 yards and 47 scores.

Mike Ditka came from an even older era where teams really didn’t like to throw. Despite that fact, Ditka still owns the record for most receiving touchdowns by a rookie tight end (12), and he was known for his physical style of play.

Defining Tight End Greatness

The best tight ends of all time combined production with versatility and impact. Tony Gonzalez set the bar for longevity and consistency, allowing him to hold onto the #1 spot (for now).

Rob Gronkowski dominated in high-stakes moments and was a punishing blocker, while the likes of Gates, Sharpe, and Kelce were all ultra productive. All of the top NFL tight ends on our list have stellar resumes, but the exact order of our rankings could easily be shuffled.

Let us know in the comments below how you have the top 5 tight ends ranked!